Eisenhower Church of Christ

Transcription

1 Eisenhower Church of Christ A Prescient Message from the Past This is an article written by Dalton Key that Allen Weakland felt was noteworthy not only for the membership here at Eisenhower, but anyone receiving our bulletin. If you can induce a community to doubt the genuineness and authenticity of the Scriptures, to question the reality and obligations of religion; to hesitate, un-deciding, whether there be any such thing as virtue or vice; whether there be an eternal state of retribution beyond the grave; or whether there be any such being as God; you have broken down the barriers of moral virtue, and hoisted the flood gates of immorality and crime. I need not say that when a people have once done this, they can no longer exist as a tranquil and happy people. Every bond that holds society together would be ruptured; fraud and treachery would take the place of confidence between man and man; the tribunals would be scenes of bribery and injustice; avarice, perjury, ambition, and revenge would walk through the land and render it more like the dwelling of savage beasts than the tranquil abode of civilize and Christianized men. (McGuffey s Eclectic Reader, 1854). McGuffey s Readers were used in American public schools as textbooks for nearly 100 years, beginning from the mid 1850 s. Much has changed for us as a nation since that time, both for the better and for the worse, but one thing is beyond debate: children who at one time were taught better and who had more expected of them became, on the whole, more moral, more upright citizens and contributed to a more stable society. Can you imagine material such as that above being taught in our schools today? And what do you think the results might be? And one additional thought: That which McGuffey s textbook warned of in 1854 has clearly come to a shameful fruition as evidenced by the most casual glance at the daily news. Godless seeds sown throughout our land are now seeing their bitter harvest. Like the people of Hosea s day, we have sown the wind and now are reaping the whirlwind. Truly, as Proverbs 14:34 reminds, Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people. -Dalton Key The Nails of the Cross John tells us that Christ has in his hands the print of the nails (John 20:25). The mob on the hill of Calvary challenged Christ to come down from the cross (Matthew 27:40). What was it that held Christ to the cross? (1) It was not the nails that held Him to the cross. He had power to remove the nails. He could have called more than twelve legions of Angels to help and remove Him from the cross (Matthew 26:53). He who had the power to still the storm, feed the multitude, and raise the dead could have removed the nails. That crowd could not have killed Christ if He had not wished to do His Father s Will. Therefore doth the Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I may take it again. No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of myself (John 10:17-18). (2) The Father s will and wish held Him to the cross. Jesus prayed in the garden and said, My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass away from me: nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt (Matthew 26:39). It was the will of God that His Son became the propitiation, that is, an atoning sacrifice for our sins (I John 2:2). The Savior s love and your sins held Christ to the tree. (3) God s eternal purpose held Christ to the cross. Jesus died to purchase the church with His own blood (Acts 20:28). The church is the institution through which the eternal purpose of God is to be made known to the world (Eph. 3:10). Without the death of Christ, God s purpose for the world would have been aborted. Thus, His love for God and man held Him to the cross not the nails.

2 (4) The joy set before Christ held Him to the cross. In the Hebrews letter we learn that the author and perfecter of our faith disregarded His suffering and for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame (Hebrews 12:2). The mocking by the angry mob at the foot of the cross was ignored by Christ because of the joy set before Him. Neither the lack of the power nor the nails held Jesus to the cross. His resignation to the Will of God and His love for the souls of mankind bound Him to the tree on which He died. Our love for God and His Son should cause us to remain faithful to the kingdom of God, despite the mocking of all who would have us depart from the path of duty. G.K. Wallace Prayer Request Bill Bayless was taken to Medical Center Hospital early Friday morning, February 27th due to a fall at the Madison Health Resort. No bones were broken. Bill is being treated for an infection in the stomach area and others health issues. He is in room #428. Concerns Update Caleista Millican is still at Manor Park in Midland Room 306. Caleista has had very little improvement in the movement of her legs and still has cancer in her brain and spine. Caleista is going through therapy in hopes of being able to walk again. Visitors are welcomed. Keep her in your daily prayers. Prayer List Jerry Anderson; Elaine Armentrout; Cody & Kala Ausbrook; Bill Bayless; Velma Betts; Susan Bosse; Elsie Bradford; Beth Carrell; Neva Carrigan; Don & Hazel Cavanaugh; Ruby Davis; Dayton Dennard; Jewell Bettes-Dennard; Doug Dowell; James Drake; Jake & Summer Finley; John Ford; Hattie Gilmore; Burt & Anna Groves; Winford & Jean Hambright; Linda Horton; Lon Howard; Susan Lee; Kathy Marshall; Shannon McAfee; Elder & Glenna McCarty; Caleista Millican; Loy Mitchell; Caimee Anne Mooney; Juan & Estella Morolez; Allison & Nathan Moyers; Judy Phillips; Evan Rector; Elvia Ruckman; Carmen Settle; Charles Simmons; Nancy Slife; Marilyn Upshaw; Bré elle Watts; Lisa Wells; Wilene Wright Shut-Ins Mildred Bell; Roberta Hamil; Janice Laminack; Kathy Marshall, Janelle Shirley, Lester Whisenant. Remember to keep all of our sick, shut-ins, the bereaved, our military personnel and the spiritually weak in your daily prayers. Events Wednesday, March 11th, Tavaris Armstrong from the Brown Trail School of Preaching will be our keynote speaker for the evening. Please make plans to attend. Branyon May will present a Documentary Report on Noah s Ark Saturday March 21st. This will be an (all day) session. Please invite your family, friends and neighbors. The next New Mexico Children s Home food drive will be Tuesday, June 2nd, They are requesting Cinnamon and Cream of Wheat. There are still coin cans available if you would like to collect change for them. Youth Bible Quiz Question In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus was teaching on Christian influence. He likened the Christian to two things. One of these was salt. What was the other? Last Week s Bible Quiz answer... Holy Spirit John chapter 16 FYI Denny Wilson is hosting a weekly radio program called Take Aim at 6:30 each Tuesday night. Tune your radio program to the gospelradionetwork.org. Feel free to please pick up a business card on the youth table in the foyer.

3 Watch In Search of the Lord s Way every Sunday morning at 7:30 am on CBS, channel 7. Also, tune in to hear a message from the Brown Trail Church of Christ on the Speaking the Truth in Love program every Sunday at 8:00 a.m. on ABC. Devotional Speakers March 11th Allen Weakland March 18th Trinidad Wood March 25th Larry May April 1st Craig Wesson Upcoming Wednesday Night Song Leaders Dex Dennard John Wood Denny Wilson Jacob Carson Thank You Thank you Eisenhower Church of Christ for the Grocery items and/or Funds you so lovingly donated to help care for the children. We TRULY appreciate your support. Thom Moore, New Mexico Christian Children s Home in Portales Office News Odessa Christian School s Eighteenth West Texas Christian Track Meet is right around the corner, April 18th, at Ratliffe Stadium. They are taking requests for ad space at this time for the program. The deadline for sponsorship and ad sales is March 3rd. Remember to Save the Date May 16th, This is the day that Craig Wesson and Kallie Culp will be united in Holy Matrimony. An invitation will follow. Strengthening the Family Group #2 will meet in the Annex for a potluck luncheon following this morning s service. All the visitors are invited to join them. Our 2015 Summer Series is scheduled for Wednesday, June 3rd August 26th Time is 7:00 p.m. The theme this year is entitled Abundance in Christ. Please invite your family members, friends and neighbors. Food for thought Happiness can be thought, sought, taught, and caught but not bought. Ulcers don t come by what you eat but what eats you. Fear freezes but faith thaws. March 8, 2015 A.M. P.M. Announcements Charles Wood Charles Wood Song Leader John Wood Doug Guynn Sermon Allen Weakland Allen Weakland Opening Prayer Charles Wood Charles Wood Scripture Richard Siler Tom Sorenson Second Prayer Denny Wilson Jacob Carson Closing Prayer Ed Fisher Trinidad Wood Lord's Supper West... Bill Ryan Ed Fisher Tom Sorenson Communion Isaiah Armendarez (In Library) East Bill Tolbert Joshua Weakland Cody Wesson

4 Other Responsibilities: Elder Charles Wood Deacon: John Wood Pulpit: Chris Butler Table: Ed Fisher Song Leaders: Denny Wilson Recording Duties: Rudy Ochoa Contributions: Rudy Ochoa Sunday AM Testing Doctrines (I John 4:1-6) Sunday PM Apostles of Jesus (Mark 3:13-19) Our Records Bible Class...63 Morning Worship...94 Evening Worship 82 Wednesday 73 Contribution $3,724.76

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